Louisiana’s casino revenue sees slight drop in March to $221.5M

According to figures released last week by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, winnings at Louisiana’s state-regulated casinos were down 1.6% in March compared to the year before. The 13 riverboat casinos, four racinos, and Harrah’s land-based casino brought in $221.5 million during the month, compared to $225.1 million in March 2021. 

The drop in business at casinos Shreveport and Bossier City and Lake Charles was the primary reason for the drop in revenue, as the Shreveport and Bossier City boats showed an overall drop of 9.9%, with none of the area’s six casinos showing any gains. Margaritaville had a 4.5% drop, from $19.7 million in March 2021 to $18.8 this year. Boomtown went from $5.9 million to $5.4 million, a 7.7% decrease. Bally’s was down to $10.5 million from last year’s $11.1 million, a 5.6% drop. Sam’s Town dropped from $6.5 million to $4 million, a 38.1% decrease, and Horseshoe was down 5.6% from $16.1 million to $15.6 million.

Overall, Bossier City’s racetrack and slot casinos sank almost 30% from last year’s $5 million to this year’s $3.6 million, representing a total drop of 29.1%.

However, the New Orleans gambling market posted a 3.8% hike in revenue in March compared to the year before. The three riverboats, Harrah’s, and the slots at the Fair Grounds brought in $53.5 million in March, compared to $51.6 million in winnings during March 2021.

Baton Rouge’s riverboat casinos had a 10.3% hike in revenue in March compared to the year before, thanks to a strong performance at L’Auberge Baton Rouge, which was the only property to post a year-to-year revenue increase in the area, bringing in $18.9 million during the month, a 24.9% increase over $15.1 million in winnings it posted in March 2021.

The three riverboats brought in $25.7 million in March, compared to $23.3 million in winnings during March 2021.

Hollywood Casino, which is in the middle of an expansion that aims to move the gaming floor onto land, had a 19% drop in revenue. The casino brought in $6.6 million last year and $5.3 million in March. Winnings at the Belle of Baton Rouge were down 7.2% from March 2021, going from $1.6 million last year to nearly $1.5 million this year.